Fierce winds return to Southern Nevada

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Fierce widespread winds return to Southern Nevada on Tuesday!

TODAY

Wind alerts are in place across the Silver State, including HIGH WIND WARNINGS for Esmeralda and Nye County for wind gusts up to 60 mph.

Locally, a WIND ADVISORY will be in effect from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm today in Clark County for sustained south winds 20-30 mph and wind gusts around 45 mph. Higher wind speeds 50-60 mph will be possible in the mountains. Similar gusty winds will occur across Lincoln County as well.

Rain/snow showers will be possible mainly across northern and central Nevada as this storm passes with the snow level dropping to 5,000-6,000 ft. Around a foot of snow is forecast in parts of the Sierra above 10,000 ft in elevation.

Meanwhile, we’ll see lots of sunshine in Las Vegas with “cooler” high temperatures reaching 86 degrees. That’s down from yesterday’s high of 90 degrees officially at the airport. Winds will start off light, increasing to 15-25 mph sustained winds this afternoon with wind gusts 35-45 mph.

Air quality is ranked ‘good’ to ‘moderate’ for ozone and blowing dust. Pollen levels are ‘low.’

TONIGHT

We’ll see mostly clear skies, gusty winds and colder valley low temperatures dropping to the mid 50s.

Winds will continue out of the southwest, 20-30 mph.

WHAT’S NEXT

Temperatures will drop around 10 degrees by Wednesday with valley highs in the mid 70s. Breezes will linger with west/southwest winds 10-15 mph with gusts around 25 mph.

We have a brief warm-up Thursday and Friday, ahead of another weather maker moving in this weekend. As of right now, weather models indicate breezes picking up Saturday and Sunday (SW winds 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph). A slight chance of mountain showers will be possible (20% odds Saturday & 30% odds Sunday on Mt. Charleston).

Temperatures will start warming up again beyond the 7-day with valley highs back in the low 80s NEXT Tuesday through Thursday.